The Value of Imaginative Play

by | May 17, 2020 | Resources | 0 comments

The Value of Imaginative Play

“Alice had begun to think that very few things indeed were really impossible.” This perfect gem-of-a-Lewis-Carroll-Alice-in-Wonderland-quote does not simply evoke whimsy. It is but one of many literary examples that are rooted in the power and depth of imagination. This mindset, wrapped up in curiosity and creativity, steers towards possibility and blossoms into fortitude and resilience, courage and action. 

Nearly a century later, we find the first scientific statements that directly tie childhood imaginative play to cognitive development. Noted theorist and developmental psychologist, Jean Piaget, contributed foundational concepts, including a framework to investigate the Four Stages of Development and Three Stages of Play. Through this work, Piaget affirms that imaginative play is, in fact, “necessary for cognitive development, as well as for a child’s emotional and intellectual equilibrium.” He specifically notes that around age two, children begin to develop abilities for symbolic play and language simultaneously, providing opportunities to apply and practice newly acquired linguistic and social skills in a world that is, as Freud describes, “tension-reducing and cathartic.”

Recent studies strengthen these foundational theories and observations. In his article, The Need for Pretend Play in Child Development, Scott Barry Kaufman integrates research from various authors, all of whom have written about the role of imaginative play during childhood. In this way, Kaufman builds a case for imagination that includes “capacity for cognitive flexibility and creativity,” as well as an opportunity to practice “self-regulation including reduced aggression, delay of gratification, civility, and empathy.” All of this points to an enhanced preschool experience that integrates imaginative play within the learning process to provoke curiosity and, ultimately, skill-building.

Cognitive Psychologists, Educators, Parents, and Artists — they, like Lewis Carroll and Loris Malaguzzi, understand the intrinsic value of play. They also recognize that imaginative play is inherently collaborative, providing a pathway for collaborative learning. And because it can be a platform to integrate newly acquired knowledge and skills, pretend play offers a safe place for children to effortlessly synthesize information, make cross-disciplinary connections, and deepen understanding. It threads together life, work, and play, presenting an opportunity to develop higher-order thinking skills essential to self-reflection, resiliency, healthy risk-taking, and problem-solving. Perhaps even more importantly, it is a space to practice empathy, kindness, and friendship.

How to Cultivate and Encourage Imaginative Play at Home:

  • Weave Imaginative Language into Daily Routines (ie. car rides, bedtime)
  • Ask Questions Without Answers
  • Read aloud with “Stop & Wonder” Questions
  • Toys and Tools Designed Specifically to Spark Imagination

Resources:

 

We can start with a simple “dot” and turn it into a dozen dots together that can be anything and everything: a horse galloping in the mountain, a mommy going shopping, a castle full of princesses, or again, just a simple “dot”—art in its purest form. Our SolBe friends embrace their curiosity, follow their imagination, and work together to create a masterpiece, tidying up when they’re done to prepare for the next activity!

 


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